Clinton police chief post still unresolved
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CLINTON — The stalemate between the mayor and Board of Aldermen over the appointment of a police chief continued Thursday night despite 90 minutes of explanation about the mechanics of the town’s government.
The top executives of the Louisiana Municipal Association — Tom Ed McHugh, attorney John Gallagher and Don Nijoka — explained the functions of the executive and legislative branches of Clinton’s government as outlined in the town’s legislative charter, adopted in 1852 and significantly amended in 1993.
The LMA officials said the charter gives Mayor Don Reason the authority to fire an employee, subject to other applicable state and federal laws, but the legislative charter also requires the board to concur in the mayor’s appointment of a police chief.
Until Thursday, Reason had not recommended a police chief to the board, but said he had hired former sheriff’s deputy Mark Maples as a captain and put him in charge of the department.
Meanwhile, police Lt. Al Burns, who had been running the department under former Mayor Donald Jefferson, received the support of four of the five board members for the post, although Reason said he had fired Burns soon after taking office Jan. 1.
Near the end of the discussion, a member of the audience asked, “What do we have to do to get me a police chief?”
With the LMA officials guiding them, the board voted unanimously to add the chief’s appointment to the meeting agenda, and Mayor Don Reason recommended Maples for the post.
Alderman Johnny Beauchamp made a motion to accept the recommendation, but the board’s George Kilbourne, Clovis Matthews Sr., Lori Bell and Lisa Washington remained silent when Reason asked for a second to the motion.
Before the recommendation, Burns asked the LMA representatives what they thought he should do to end the stalemate, which has “one person at home who’s in charge and one here who’s not in charge.”
Since Feb. 5, Burns has been showing up at the police station but is locked out of the chief’s office. Maples told The Advocate he is “laying low” until the issue is resolved.
“That’s totally out of our area of responsibility to tell you what you should do,” McHugh replied, although he said the charter gives Reason the authority to fire Burns.
“People of good will … people want to do right for their community, can take a bad government and make it good,” McHugh said.
The top executives of the Louisiana Municipal Association — Tom Ed McHugh, attorney John Gallagher and Don Nijoka — explained the functions of the executive and legislative branches of Clinton’s government as outlined in the town’s legislative charter, adopted in 1852 and significantly amended in 1993.
The LMA officials said the charter gives Mayor Don Reason the authority to fire an employee, subject to other applicable state and federal laws, but the legislative charter also requires the board to concur in the mayor’s appointment of a police chief.
Until Thursday, Reason had not recommended a police chief to the board, but said he had hired former sheriff’s deputy Mark Maples as a captain and put him in charge of the department.
Meanwhile, police Lt. Al Burns, who had been running the department under former Mayor Donald Jefferson, received the support of four of the five board members for the post, although Reason said he had fired Burns soon after taking office Jan. 1.
Near the end of the discussion, a member of the audience asked, “What do we have to do to get me a police chief?”
With the LMA officials guiding them, the board voted unanimously to add the chief’s appointment to the meeting agenda, and Mayor Don Reason recommended Maples for the post.
Alderman Johnny Beauchamp made a motion to accept the recommendation, but the board’s George Kilbourne, Clovis Matthews Sr., Lori Bell and Lisa Washington remained silent when Reason asked for a second to the motion.
Before the recommendation, Burns asked the LMA representatives what they thought he should do to end the stalemate, which has “one person at home who’s in charge and one here who’s not in charge.”
Since Feb. 5, Burns has been showing up at the police station but is locked out of the chief’s office. Maples told The Advocate he is “laying low” until the issue is resolved.
“That’s totally out of our area of responsibility to tell you what you should do,” McHugh replied, although he said the charter gives Reason the authority to fire Burns.
“People of good will … people want to do right for their community, can take a bad government and make it good,” McHugh said.
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